Riders who fly into Santa Barbara (SBA) will be shuttled to the Ballard Inn. Upon arrival, we will have lunch served at the staff house, where we’ll also build bikes and fit rentals to get ready for an afternoon spin (official check-in at The Ballard Inn is not until 4 p.m.). We’ll go on a mellow 20- or 30-mile cruise through the vineyards and ranchlands of the Santa Ynez Valley and do a pre-camp briefing before dinner at the Ballard Inn’s on-site Gathering Table restaurant.

Today’s Ride:

Arrival Spin in Ballard: 30 miles, ~1,500 feet of climbing, ~2 hours

Our longest ride of the week is an endurance challenge with some great climbs as we meander through vineyards on desolate country roads en route to the Pacific Ocean. A short stretch on Highway 1 will lead us to a light mid-ride picnic before we retrace our steps back. We also offer a shorter option that starts with a shuttle to Highway 1. No formal activities are planned for this afternoon, but many guests stroll down to the local park or relax on the front porch. Dinner will be in Solvang at Los Arroyos Mexican restaurant.

Today’s Ride:

Jalama Beach: 59-84 miles, 4,300- 5,200 feet of climbing, ~5+ hours

We are excited to offer a new ride up Mount Gibraltar! The climb is very challenging but offers fantastic views of the Pacific Ocean and has been used as a mountain-top finish in the Tour of California. We will shuttle from The Ballard Inn to Handlebar Coffee in Santa Barbara. Grab a cortado or espresso to get you ready for the big climb. The ride is an out-and-back and can easily be extended for guests looking for a few more miles. The descent is fantastic! We will have lunch in Santa Barbara before shuttling back to Solvang. Dinner will be at Industrial Eats in Buellton.

Today’s Ride:

Mount Gibraltar: 19 miles+, 3,300+ feet of climbing, ~2.5+ hours

An easy valley spin is welcomed by most after a couple of solid days of riding. The route will include a coffee shop stop in Santa Ynez at The Bakers Table. If your legs are looking for a bigger challenge, we will also offer Mount Figueroa as an option – a true challenge with steeper pitches, amazing views and fun descents. This ride is a favorite of TJ Van Garderen, especially because of its European feel. The loop brings us up Happy Canyon and passes Michael Jackson’s former estate Neverland. A fun descent brings us back to the valley floor.

Today’s ride options:

Recovery Ride: 30 miles, 1,400 feet of climbing, ~2+hours

Mount Figueroa: 40+ miles, 4,700 feet of climbing, ~4+ hours

There’s something for everyone on this out-and-back ride through rolling hills, quiet roads, plenty of vineyards and open spaces. The route follows the wine trail north of Los Olivos on Foxen Canyon and climbs up Firestone Hill, which offers an expansive view of the valley. At Sisquoc, we have our first turnaround option, which makes for a 50-mile ride with 2,700 feet of climbing. A longer option is to head to the top of Tepusquet, making it a 68-mile ride with 4,300 feet of climbing. Riders looking for an even longer day can drop down the backside of Tepusquet and turn around at Highway 166, making this a 77-mile ride with 5,400 feet of climbing. We’ll retrace our route back to The Ballard Inn, where lunch will be ready when we return.

Today’s ride:

Foxen Canyon: The route options range from 50-77 miles, with 2,700–5,400 feet of climbing, ~3-5+ hours

We’ll say goodbye to The Ballard Inn and shuttle riders back to Santa Barbara for departures. Checkout is 11 a.m. 

Shuttles to Santa Barbara in the morning. Checkout is 11 a.m.